There are a variety of grimoires attributed to King Solomon which date from the middle ages onward. They may even have their origins in a genuine ancient source.
Such Solomonic grimoires have impacted hoodoo practice, partly through their dissemination into European magical traditions which were then absorbed into the American hoodoo tradition; and also through direct reprintings of the grimoires, such as those made by De Laurence, which were sold into the American hoodoo market. Even Lewis de Claremont, of Ancient's Book of Formulas fame and probable inventor of the 7 Holy Spirits Bath, composed his own guide to Solomonic conjuring called The Ancient's Book of Magic.
Many of the grimoires instruct the practitioner to wear a certain ring while conjuring, with the designs sometimes varying quite wildly from manuscript to manuscript. Some common basic designs include the three above, going from left to right.
Solomon's pentalpha. The version used in the oldest known Solomon text (The Testament of Solomon). This symbol was known in Sumeria and was formerly used as the city seal for Jerusalem.
Solomon's hexagram. This is the "Star of David" that most people would be familiar with as a traditional Jewish symbol, though it was not widely adopted for this purpose until the 19th century. Its use in kabbalist magic seems to date to around the 6th century AD, according to this history site.
Solomon's 8-pointed ring. A variation more common in Arabic manuscripts, this design is of overlapping squares with stylized looping of the corners. It has made its way into Indian and Thai magic, still known as King Solomon's Ring. (Read more at the British Library blog.)
Many grimoires give heavily embellished versions of these simple designs for their proposed "Solomon Rings." Naturally, it is impossible to know which, if any, is the "real" design.
If you cannot decide between them, there is always the Sigillum Dei Aemeth, also known as the Great Seal of Solomon or the Great Pentacle of Solomon, which appears to be some kind of attempt to combine all the designs into one:
This emblem is highly intricate and may be seen as the culmination of multiple Solomonic traditions. Its appearance in multiple grimoires and occult texts suggests it was regarded as a powerful protective device, one that could command the forces of both the physical and spiritual realms. In the context of hoodoo, it may be used for protection, as a focus for conjuration, or even as a means to bind specific spirits to the practitioner’s will.
Over centuries, the grimoires and their teachings have been subject to reinterpretation and reinvention. While the ancient origins of many of these symbols are obscure, their use in European and then American hoodoo magical traditions speaks to the fluidity of magical practice across cultures and time periods.
Whether worn as a ring, drawn on a piece of parchment, or invoked during a ritual, these symbols act as keys to unlocking both inner and outer power, providing the practitioner with the focus and intent needed to manifest their desires and commands. The enduring popularity of these symbols in contemporary occult and hoodoo practices attests to their lasting appeal, offering a bridge between the ancient and the modern, the sacred and the profane.